News / Connect

We've reviewed the multi-platform mobile app Photo Editor by Aviary. Even if you're not familiar with this app, you've likely seen Aviary in effect in other mobile applications as the photo editor is available to other app developers as a software development kit (SDK) for Android, iOS and Windows Phone 7, and there's a Web Widget too. We take a look at Aviary's version, optimized for both phone and tablet screens, on Connect.

Indian photographer Sudeep Mehta has been chosen as the winner of the connect.dpreview.com photo competition. The Connect team, along with a panel of judges, has selected the winners from over 3,000 entries, with Metha of Mumbai, India, winning the $5,000 first prize. The second-placed image and four runners-up selected from some excellent submissions will also receive cash prizes. Visit connect.dpreview.com to see the winning images and thank you to everyone who took part.

Samsung has publicly released the kernel code for its Android-based Galaxy Camera, as it regularly does for its smartphones.The kernel is the core of the operating system including software that controls the hardware. In the short term, independent developers are discussing using the code to enable phone calls from the device but, beyond this, a publicly available kernel gives developers and hackers a greater insight into the Galaxy Camera's workings than we've ever seen for a camera.

Long before the rise of Instagram, square format film cameras from Rolleiflex and Hasselblad were held in high esteem by photo enthusiasts. Indeed the square image is part of a long image-making tradition in visual arts. And one that every photographer - new or experienced - should explore. In this article, we share some tips and tricks for square shooting with your most mobile camera: your smartphone.

The tiny GoPro camera can make some spectacular videos. From Red Bull’s record breaking skydive to a cat's perspective on chasing a laser pointer, there is serious potential for the $200-$400 video camera. The GoPro is built to survive extreme photographic situations, but it can also work well for more conventional video needs. When San Diego-based photographer Ben Horne got married earlier this year, he put a GoPro HD Hero2 in his bride’s bouquet to create a unique camera angle. Click through for more details, and to see the video on connect.dpreview.com

The Samsung Galaxy S3 is the latest incarnation of Samsung’s hugely successful Galaxy smartphone line and with an eight megapixel backlight-illuminated sensor and 1080p video capture it offers one of the most compelling photographic feature sets of any current smartphone. The S3 is Samsung’s best-selling Galaxy model to date - read our in-depth full review of its 8MP camera here.

No-one takes gadgets apart quite like the guys at iFixit.com and they've just got their hands on Apple's latest tablet, the pint-sized iPad Mini. Basically an iPad 2 in a smaller form factor, the Mini goes on sale tomorrow in the US. Thanks to a whole lot of glue holding the thing together and expensive battery replacement cost, the iPad Mini earns a low repairability score of 2 out of 10 on the iFixit scale. Click through for some sample images from the teardown and a link to the full, gory experience over at ifixit.com.

Connect: Australian photographer Misho Baranovic decided to use Instagram as a way of keeping track of the human-scale impact of Hurricane Sandy as it reached the US coast. He explains the steps he took to find the most relevant photos and filter-out inauthentic images - highlighting both the potential and pitfalls of curating and sharing crowd-sourced content.

Connect: Creative White Balance tips for smartphone photographers. White Balance can make the difference between a bland image and an engaging photograph. Smartphones are increasingly giving control over this important tool for getting color 'right' in your photos - we give some tips about how it's used.

Connect: Sensor maker Omnivision has announced two smartphone-targeted CMOS camera modules. The OV5645 is built on an affordable 1/4"-type 5MP sensor built around a standardized MIPI interface, allowing processing functions to be passed to the host processor, rather than having to include JPEG compression in the device. The OV8835 uses a higher-end, 1/3.2"-type 8MP second-generation BSI CMOS sensor with claimed 'best-in-class pixel performance.' 

Connect: The Beamr app allows full-res iPhone and iPad images to be shared as virtual magazines. We spoke to Dror Gill, Chief Technology Officer of ICVT about the way it uses the company's JEPGmini technology to make file sizes manageable and how this is just the consumer-facing beginning.

Connect: Microsoft has taken a different approach to the tablet market with its Surface, by including a fold-out keyboard. The device isn't formally available until Friday but various tech bloggers have already had a chance to play with the Windows RT-based machine. What are their first impressions and should photographers take interest?

Connect: When you're not using it to browse the web, show off your photos or check your e-mail, have you considered using your tablet computer as a light source for photography? It may not offer a high-speed sync mode but, with an inexpensive app, it can open up some creative opportunities.

Just posted: Our full review of the HTC One X smartphone. With a 4.7 inch screen, 8MP camera, fast F2.0 lens and 1080p video recording, the HTC One X packs some impressive photographic specifications. Read our in-depth review to find out how it performs. 

A new app from the online photo storage service Snapjoy makes it easy to view your online photo library from your mobile device. With a well-organized timeline view, we imagine photographers may find the tool useful for sharing online portfolios with clients from their iPad.

While Google's social experiment may not have taken off for other users, photographers have flocked to Google+ and somehow transformed it into one of the most vibrant photographic communities in recent years. What makes it so attractive to photographers and how are they using the platform to interact?

When you’re in the field, whether shooting on location or just meeting with your next client, gear that’s powerful and portable is a must. There are plenty of tablets on the market, but some lend themselves better to photo processing and presentation than others.

Since the launch of the original iPad, Apple's tablet has held great appeal for photographers as a way to show off their work on a sleek, portable, stylish device. But, with its high resolution 'Retina' display, does it deserve to be taken more seriously, and given a chance to earn its place in your photographic workflow?

Simple waterproof gear can protect your smartphone while you catch the spray of the surf and actions of the waves for stunning images from the sea. Allan Hoffman offers seven tips for taking your smartphone into the ocean.

Professional photographer Dean Holland recently tried leaving his DSLR at home and only shooting with his iPhone during a two-week-long trip to Vietmam. Holland offers a selection of images from his trip as he asks: An iPhone, a second honeymoon and photography: Can they mix?